“A little oil mixed with powdered sandalwood will tame your hair,” the girl behind Lilith blurted.
Jolted, Lilith turned around to glare at the girl who obviously had no manners. Lilith’s eyes were immediately drawn to her shoulder-length thick, red hair. It was braided in rows that tapered down into fine points. Small seashells decorated the end of each braid as if they had been carefully selected for such a purpose. The girl’s red hair wasn’t the same as Lilith’s Uncle Kukulkan’s cinnamon shade. Instead, the girl possessed a bright berry hue, the likes Lilith had never seen before. It was distracting yet mesmerizing at the same time.
The girl cupped Lilith’s chin and nudged it down. Wide green eyes, the color of a sea turtle, glared at Lilith. “My mother says it’s rude to stare.”
Lilith’s nostrils flared. “Well, my mother—” She cut herself off, feeling the void in her heart from the loss of her mother, then continued, “—taught me to offer advice only when asked for it. And I don’t recall asking for your advice about my hair.”
“Suit yourself.” She shrugged. “But if you want to get rid of that frizzy, fly-away look, take my advice—sandalwood oil works wonders. Oh, and while you’re at it, you should add some accessories to your plain white gown. It will not only enhance the color of your beautiful blue eyes, it will bring to life whatever you’re wearing.”
Lilith started to cross her arms over her chest, then stopped herself. “What kind of accessories?”
The girl smiled as if she’d found a lost treasure. Her teeth were pearl with a hint of pink. She rubbed her hands together briskly, and said, “An embroidered sash to show off your hips, and a seashell and pearl necklace to enhance your neckline. Your snake bracelet is a definite keeper, but use only one crystal hairpin—not five—and preferably purple or blue. You want your hair to move naturally, not be held back. Oh, wait one more thing.”
Lilith’s face twitched. “Just one?”
The girl pointed to Lilith’s feet. “Palm woven sandals are out of style. And where’s your satchel?”
“I…I don’t have one.”
The girl thumbed her square chin. “That’s an easy fix, I have loads of them—I’ll lend you one that will pull your outfit together. You’ll have a suitor in no time.”
“A suitor?”
The girl nodded just enough to show off her dangling bead earrings. Lilith must have counted at least five different seashell bracelets running up each arm. The girl’s white sheath had beaded straps instead of cloth straps and a herringbone design ran along the gown’s bottom. A belt dyed a deep purple hugged the girl’s waist and allowed for her hips to flare out in an attractive way. Curious, Lilith lowered her head to see what kind of sandals were in style. Lilith’s eyes widened. Spotted animal-skin sandals with a heel at least as long as Lilith’s middle finger adorned the girl’s feet. Lilith blinked, feeling the need to slink into a nest of white crawlers.
“Yes, a suitor,” the girl said in exasperation. “A woman is not complete without a man.”
“So what you’re saying—” Lilith inclined her head “—is that all this accessorizing is to attract a mate?”
The girl rolled her eyes. “Yes, that’s the point of it.”
Lilith giggled. “If that’s the case, you must have a boat load of suitors to choose from.”
The girl’s face fell. Her normal skin tone was close to Lilith’s but a little tanner. Then a group of young, native men passed them in the hallway of the Temple Beautiful where Lilith been waiting to see Istulo. Lilith thought they might be artists by the way all their hands were speckled with blue, green, and yellow paint. And all of them wore linen loincloths, like Tau. They stared at the red-headed girl for a moment, then laughed and cut a wide berth around her.
“Freak,” one of the men muttered.
“Fancy her?” another artist asked.
“Shave her head, and I’ll think about it.”
The group guffawed, slapping the man on his back, while they turned down a corridor.
“What was that all about?” Lilith asked, feeling a sudden drop inside her.
The girl didn’t answer Lilith. She was too busy looking inside a spotted animal-skin satchel which matched her sandals perfectly. She pulled out something Lilith recognized—a life seal. The girl stared at the disk as if it held a long-awaited answer to a question she’d asked one too many times.
“Why are you here?” Lilith asked. “You’ve already got your life seal.”
“I have more questions for Istulo.” She continued to stare at the disk.
Lilith sighed. “My name is Lilith. What’s your name?”
Her shoulders relaxed slightly. A hint of a smile broke out on her face. Her upturned nose wiggled. “She-Aba. I was born here in the Black Land. Both my parents arrived from Atlantis fourteen years ago yesterday. My mother gave birth to me the next day.”
Lilith perked up. “That would make today your birthday!”
She-Aba beamed. “Yes. That’s why I’m here. For my birthday last year, I had my life reading done by Istulo. But recently, there’s been a hiccup in my plans. It’s like my life seal rearranged itself, and now I’m confused. I’m here for a reaffirmation.”
“What’s the problem?”
She-Aba traced her life seal with the tip of her perfectly shaped fingernail. “My lifetime occupation was supposed to be to design clothing for the people of the various positions in the court and temples.”
Lilith smirked. “That makes perfect sense.”
“I know, right? So why, all of a sudden, would my life seal change from designing clothing to something completely different?”
Lilith arched a fair brow. “How different?”
“Well, instead of clothing people in lavish robes and gowns for others to appreciate, the seal suggests that I’ll be doing the opposite by covering up and hiding the truth. I don’t understand it at all. I thought my life was all planned out for me.”
“I thought mine was too, until my country blew up and slid into the ocean,” Lilith muttered.
“Hey, look at the bright side, at least your hair isn’t red like mine.”
Lilith eyed She-Aba carefully. “What’s wrong with red hair? My uncle has red hair and it suits him fine.”
She-Aba moved in closer. “If you haven’t noticed already, there aren’t many redheads around here. The natives think red is magical, and anyone with red hair is considered a freak of nature.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Lilith said loud enough to cause an echo down the marble hallway. “Is that the reason why those artists were rude to you? Because you have red hair?”
“Red is a very powerful color,” a raspy voice said from behind both girls.
Lilith and She-Aba jumped. They slowly turned to find Istulo hovering over them.
Wearing the same white gown and orichalcum headband Lilith saw her dressed in before, Istulo nodded slightly before she said, “Red represents the essence of life—if we are drained of blood, we are drained of energy. The people of the Black Land understand this, and therefore red is reserved only for their gods and goddesses.”
Lilith giggled. “Don’t tell She-Aba that, she’ll think she’s a goddess.”
She-Aba poked her in the ribs, but Lilith ignored her and continued to giggle.
Istulo squinted at She-Aba. “Did we have a session together?”
She-Aba licked her pink lips. “No, Istulo. I was hoping, since it’s my birthday, that I could get you to look at my life seal and reaffirm it for me. It’s changed since last year.”
Istulo scrunched her weathered face, which made her appear gaunt. “Life seals represent the outer expression of your inner development and are binding contracts with your soul. They do not change, She-Aba.”
“Mine did,” She-Aba said, shrugging
.
Istulo held out her spindly hand. “Let me see it.”
She-Aba passed Istulo her ceramic life seal. The old priestess brought it close to her eyes and touched it with a thin, gnarled finger. She wheezed once and fell silent for what seemed an eternity, all the while tapping her finger upon the disk like she was beating on a tiny drum. Then Istulo started chanting. At first it was soft, but as she progressed it got louder and louder until Lilith had to cover her ears. A lioness in heat sounded better than her caterwauling.
Suddenly, Istulo stopped. She handed She-Aba back her life seal. “There are illusion and deception indicated.”
She-Aba’s eyes bugged. “But…what about designing beautiful clothing for people in the court and temples?”
“That is for you to intuit, She-Aba. All I can tell you is that your lifetime occupation has shifted. You must accept this as higher guidance.”
She-Aba took the small disk from Istulo. Her pert lips started to quiver. “Shifted? You’re telling me my whole life plan has…has shifted?”
With a face void of expression, Istulo nodded. “It would appear so. Now go. Study your new plan. Learn it. Accept it.”
“But…” She-Aba begged.
Istulo held up her wrinkled hand. “Your time with me is over. I have an appointment for a life reading with Lilith. Either go to the meditation room for insight from the Shining Serpent, or leave the Temple Beautiful. It is your choice, She-Aba.”
Lilith could almost feel She-Aba’s anguish. She had her heart set on being a clothes designer. In the short time she had known She-Aba, Lilith had seen she had a flare for clothing and accessorizing people. Before She-Aba turned on her spotted animal-skin heels, Lilith grabbed her by the shoulder and whispered in her ear, “If your life seal can change, than that means it can change again. Don’t worry. We’ll figure this out. Together.”
Without turning around, She-Aba gently touched Lilith’s hand and whispered, “Thank you, Lilith. You’re the best birthday gift I’ve ever received.”
3
The Snake Charmer
Lilith sat off in a corner of the marketplace, out of the sun, thinking about her life reading. Brilliant colors of blue, turquoise, and yellow linens were carefully draped over every merchant’s booth to protect them, and their wares, from the sun’s relentless rays. Lilith tried to drown out the sound of children laughing and screaming, but it was no use. Then, she tried to lose herself within the sea of distraction, but that caused even more distraction. Deciding that a walk around the market would do her good, Lilith stood up. She brushed down her linen sheath, complete with a deep blue sash and matching sandals compliments of She-Aba, and walked towards the west, away from the glaring rays, towards the alluring smell of incense.
A small linen satchel—the color of coral—hung over her shoulder. Lilith adjusted her new shell and bead necklace—another addition from She-Aba—as she poked about, inspecting each merchant’s area like she was searching for a clue or answer to the meaning of her life reading. Slipping her slender hand into her satchel, Lilith fished around until she felt the small ceramic disk that had changed her life and shifted her perception.
Slowly, Lilith pulled out her life seal and looked it over as if it were something she was deciding to purchase at the market. She flared her nostrils and emitted a small guttural sound from the back of her throat. If she had had a choice—which according to Istulo, she did not—Lilith would toss her life seal into the deepest part of the river and let the current carry it into the sea. Her fist engulfed the small disk.
A Timekeeper? This is my lifetime occupation? What does that even mean? Lilith thought. She grumbled while pushing her snake bracelet up over her wrist. “Time is not something one can keep!” she blurted.
A native merchant and his wife sitting on a wide reed mat looked up at Lilith strangely and offered her a date to sample. She apologetically smiled, reached for the dried brown fruit, and popped it into her mouth. Its sweetness pacified her, and she let the warm date slide down her throat. “Thank you. I’ll take a handful for my father.”
The man, who was close in age to Lilith’s father, flashed a toothless grin. His skin was leathery, and he wore a long loincloth that reached the top of his knees. He motioned for his wife, who wore a white sheath dotted with brown spots, to package the dates in a palm leaf. Lilith bent to place her life seal on the reed mat in front of the man so she could look through her satchel for a piece of silver to give to the merchant. She heard him make the sound of a baby monkey.
He held up his hand. “No. Dates are gift. You take.”
Lilith stopped searching through her satchel. She looked down at the merchant, who was busy staring at her life seal. His mouth was opened, and he nudged his wife.
“Are…are you sure?”
The merchant’s wife quickly bundled up the dates and held them up for Lilith. “Yes. Ra protects you. Take dates. It is gift.”
Lilith shrugged. She gingerly took the wrapped dates, slid them into her satchel, and then started to walk away until she felt a rough hand grasp her ankle. She looked down to find the merchant’s wife staring up at her. “Wait. Forgot life seal. Bad for fate. Must take with you, keep with you.”
Lilith pursed her lips. It wouldn’t have bothered her one bit to lose her life seal. But it meant something to the natives. Maybe these people could help her figure out what a Timekeeper does. She smiled as the woman released her foot, then squatted to retrieve her life seal, still on the reed mat. Lilith licked her dry lips, then looked the merchant in his dark, brown eyes. “What does this mean?” she asked, shaking the small disk in front of him as if she had something to sell to him. “And what does your god, Ra, have to do with it?”
The man wiped away the sweat building on his balding head. He glanced at his wife, who was nervously chewing her bottom lip, and then back to Lilith. “Take dates. It is to thank Ra. You will see.”
“They can’t tell you, Atcha-girl. You have to figure it out for yourself.”
Lilith cringed. She squeezed her life seal, wishing it would crumble, but it was stronger than she thought. She knew that annoying, pesky voice. “Hello, Tau,” she said coolly. “What’s the matter, couldn’t find any white crawlers to slay?”
Tau laughed. “You’re still having problems pronouncing some of our words. Maybe I should teach you since I’m to be a scribe.”
Lilith stood up and turned to face Tau. He wore a fresher loincloth with a small leather satchel fastened to the side of it. He also appeared to have gotten his hair washed and cut, which curled perfectly around his ears. Tau still displayed his life seal around his neck as if he were a peacock showing off his plumes. She smirked. “What’s the occasion? Found a girl that would put up with you?”
“It’s market day. Father insists I look my best.”
“Well, if that’s your best, I’ll have to introduce you to a friend of mine. She has a flare with colors and fabrics. Maybe you should give her a try.”
Tau wrinkled his brow. “What’s wrong with what I am wearing? It’s cool and allows my skin to breath. You Atchas will learn soon enough about how to dress for the desert!”
“Hey, She-Aba has given me—”
“Did you say She-Aba?” Tau interrupted.
“Yes, why?”
Tau snorted. “She’s…she’s odd, a freak. She pretends to be important, like our gods.”
Lilith set her jaw. “Says who? Your people and their silly rules?”
“Red is reserved for our gods and goddesses only,” Tau said, flailing his arms. “To try to resemble them in any way is unnatural and is forbidden. To wear red takes away the power of the gods who take away power from people in revenge. It brings severe consequences to those who mock our ways.”
“She-Aba was born that way!” Lilith shouted. “She’s not mocking you or your ways!
She’s just being who she’s supposed to be!” Then, with a force she’d never felt before, Lilith threw her life seal at Tau’s head. He ducked in time.
The small ceramic disk rolled through the marketplace and smacked against the side of a cream-colored basket with a lid on it. Flustered, and ignoring the stares she received from the other merchants and their customers, Lilith pushed Tau aside. “Guess I’d better go collect my silly life seal, or the gods will put a curse on me!”
Lilith strutted through the market like she owned it. She became aware of Tau racing after her. “Go away, Tau, there’s no white crawlers around for you to protect me from!”
“But, Lilith, wait for me!” Tau cried. “Stop!”
Fat chance of that. Lilith reached the woven basket decorated with heads of hooded serpents. She grimaced at the pictures and looked around for her life seal. It was lodged under the basket, so without consideration for the basket’s owner, she gave it a hard kick. The lid popped off the moment the basket hit the earth. An odd sound erupted from the basket, and Lilith walked around to see what it might be. Suddenly, a long snake emerged from the basket, hissing at anything around it.
Lilith froze in place. Sweat blistered through her skin. Her heart raced, her mouth went dry, and she held her legs tightly together so she would not relieve herself in front of the crowd. Tau stopped his advances. She could hear his labored breathing. It almost matched hers, only she could feel her chest closing up and her head getting lighter. The snake rose to the height of Lilith’s waist and hissed at her. The sensation of its putrid breath crawling across her bare arms made her skin ripple and her body shake. She closed her eyes, knowing that somehow this was Tau’s gods’ retribution for what she had just said. Then, Lilith heard a flute being played behind her. It sounded lulling and calming, her whole body relaxed instantly.
Legend of the Timekeepers Page 3
